Boring Area

The Weretiger instantly lost his cool and was about to attack when his companion immediately grabbed his arm and reprimanded in a low voice, "You can't do this, Sir Todd!"

Everyone was already touching their weapons, but what they didn't expect, however, was that the infamous and incredibly arrogant Todd Bunce actually immediately backed down and just clicked his tongue.

'Just my luck that this brainless idiot was the only one around when something like this happens.', thought Salvatore. They had to follow everyone else or they wouldn't be able to defend themselves if someone really defeated the Kuraokami in secret. More importantly, they couldn't give up their right to the Monster Rex that only spawned every two months since their Captain right now was at a very important juncture.

Looking around, Salvatore couldn't help but be frustrated at everyone looking at them with suspicion, 'Nevertheless, they can't really get any answers from me even if they ask. And what's wrong with us not making any trouble?'

Everyone took back their hands from their weapons, but as Salvatore thought, they were all suspicious that Todd would easily back down as they knew for sure that he was not afraid of them. However, they couldn't really ask them why and could only keep their suspicion in their mind.

"So who could have done this? All those who could are currently accounted for and I doubt that the Astarte Familia would really start this drama.", Zerelda Sawyer, a Sheep Person from the Lugh Familia, and a Level 5 asked everyone.

Everyone discussed it for a bit before a splashing sound was heard from the tunnel they came out of. Soon after, a Mercenary from the Poseidon Familia emerged and immediately went straight towards Lelalia before whispering something.

Nodding at her, Lelalia asked the Mercenary to dry herself off before facing everyone, "According to the witnesses, it seems that a group of three people came down moments before they heard the cry of Kuraokami, however, their identities couldn't be determined due to them wearing heavy cloaks."

But even before this information came to them, they already had a guess as to who they were, "Three people, huh... So chances are, it was Yoruichi Shihouin, Kuroka Toujou and the new addition to their party.", muttered Fenia while recalling their last encounter.

"If that's the case, then our initial estimations of them are seriously off. And with a new addition to their group, they could technically become another faction.", Zerelda crossed her arms and muttered in contemplation.

"Even then, we can't really point our fingers at them since we don't have any evidence. They could just as easily say that it may be other strong wandering individuals who took care of it.", added Lelalia.

"Then how are we going to solve the allocation of the Monster Rex? We certainly won't give away our rights over it in two months.", asked Salvatore.

Lelalia looked at him and replied, "We can't decide a proper conclusion to that with just us here. Let's move to the surface and discuss this with everyone else."

Zerelda looked towards the path leading to the next floor and asked, "Should we send someone to scout them?"

"I'd advise against that. We don't know their full capabilities and it'll only put the scout in unnecessary danger.", replied Yenna.

.

.

.

As soon as they stepped into the 34th floor, the temperature became a lot better but the surroundings became even grimmer. With a thick mist covering the whole floor, it was impossible to see beyond ten meters. Without a good map or a guide, one would instantly get lost in this enormous labyrinth that could fit an entire city.

However, the most terrifying thing about this floor for the Mercenaries were the monsters that silently roamed throughout. A few minutes after stepping into the mist-veiled floor, they were immediately surrounded by floating translucent skeletons covered in tattered cloaks with their eye sockets filled with purple fire.

They were Wraiths, monsters that were incorporeal, which made them immune to physical attacks unless one hit its Magic Stone that was randomly placed inside its body. Their main attacks were mental disturbance and curses that made one weaker. If someone fell to their attacks without defending, they'd become mad and start attacking others or just outright kill themselves.

The only way to hurt these beings outside of damaging their Magic Stones was Magic, so without preparing a sufficient amount of Magic Swords and Magic Potions, it was just going to be suicide, not to mention that there were other stronger incorporeal being that lurked in the darkness of not just the 34th floor, but until 39th floor, too.

Of course, it was a different story for Kisuke's group. With a simple Kidou, Yoruichi could annihilate a group of them and Kuroka just needed to use Senjutsu and they would be destroyed from the inside. Even if Kisuke couldn't fight properly and couldn't awaken Benihime, just a slight cut from his blade would immediately purify the Wraiths.

Kisuke, Yoruichi and Kuroka didn't stop running until they reached the 40th floor, slaughtering not just Wraiths, but also Banshees and Revenants.

"That's a boring area for sure...", muttered Kisuke.

Yoruichi sighed and nodded, "I know, right?"

"Please don't say that, nyaa. It just happens that we're their worst enemy. Others could easily get wiped out if they're not careful.", Kuroka reminded them.

Kisuke then looked around at the large steaming tunnel and said, "Let's forget about that. It looks like it's a hot area this time. What're the monsters this time around?"

Since this was where he would spend the next three weeks, Kisuke didn't want it to be as boring as the previous area.

"There are many types and various monsters from this floor until the 46th floor, but generally, they are divided between two categories.", answered Yoruichi as she walked forward, "The first are obviously fire monsters and the second are poisonous monsters. Or it could be a combination of these two."

"As for the 48th floor, it's a safety point so we could set up our base there, nyaa.", added Kuroka, "Beyond that is a rainforest biome and I've heard that there are a lot of exotic fruits and vegetables over there, with some having some unique effect."

Kisuke smiled and said, "Now that's nice to hear~ Let's go set up our base first. Let's make our three weeks as comfortable as possible."

Yoruichi and Kuroka knew for sure that if not for his current state, Kisuke would probably make a modern skyscraper as their 'base' on the 48th floor. However, these two still underestimated Kisuke's enthusiasm in building 'bases' as he'd already prepared something just for the occasion.

'Now then... How tall should I make it?', thought Kisuke as he started thinking about the floor plans.